heat heat heat

The fan does the trick for me. I use a fan I bought from Walmart that can be wall mounted. I mounted it to the inside of my stand and have it blow across the fuge. On hot days (89 in the house) my tank was warming up to 84 during the day. I normally keep it at 80. The fan cools my tank enough that the heater comes back on and keeps the tank at 80. It does cause a lot of evaporation though so I need to fill up my top-off container every day if the fan is running vs every 3 days when it is off. I don't need to run it that often. It sure is a lot cheaper than a chiller that I don't have room for anyway. Having T5s instead of MHs helps a ton too.

Can't find the exact model but it looks similar to this.

 

Great post Steve. I have solved, personally, my heat problem with raising my lights and adding two four inch computer fans on the back of the tank blowing across the surface (under the light fixture) toward the front. It knocks the temp down four degrees. But evaporation rate soars. Bigtime. You really have to watch it. During a hot spell, I would only run my lights three or four hours a day....and do that at night. Reversing your lighting schedule is perfectly fine also.

Here is what my set up looks like. Pretty basic.

 

At 83 I would definitely start watching it but, I wouldn't do anything at this point... except get the above mentioned things ready incase it get's warmer.

 

Most people don't know how nice it is to have a chiller for their reef until they purchase one. I promise that would be the best $500 you will ever spend on your reef..

If you are going for the cheapest way out, go with the fans, but prepare to deal with problems with your salinity fluctuating.

 

is 83 degree critical for my fishes and corals? Will they die?

 

IMO Mkizla

it depends on the species of fish and corals so I cant make a general statement
some corals would not like it to exceed 80 - depends where they are from

fish - Clowns and Damsels - you have I believe - they wont be bothered by the heat
but the warmer the water gets, the lower the dissolved oxygen content becomes
is often the lower oxygen levels that are the problem for the fish than the heat

83 is not a major issue IMO

if it gets to 85 and above thats when you may have a major problem
Mine reached higher than that for 1 week prior to me getting the chiller and my corals where showing signs of discomfort (Not opening as well as they had been previously)

Steve

 

When my temps get stupid I pop in some frozen gatorade bottles and that does the trick.

 

You would be amazed at what a $8 WalMart clip on fan blowing across the surface will do. Its not unusual to lower a tank 5-7 degrees with fans only. I am in Phoenix, my wife and I are away all day and we have a digital setback thermostat on the house AC during the day so the house is not cool by any means and i got rid of my chiller. Fans only, a clip on over the sump and two 4" computer fans in the canopy provide everything I need to keep the system at 79-81 year round. Thats with a completely enclosed canopy and 2x250w MH and 2x140w VHO actinics in the canopy and on 9 hrs a day.

Spend $8 at WalMart and see for yourself. Be prepared to add water for evaporation but thats a good thing!

 

It has been very hot here in So. Cal My house is 90 degrees indoors but with the chiller my 120 gal. tank stays at 78. My wife wants to jump in!

 

Best 250$ I spent on my tank.. hated to do it... but the peace of mind is great!